From the President
Generous support from SMU donors fuels our entrance into the ACC and academic initiatives in every area of the University as we progress toward the $1.5 billion goal for SMU Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow.
Thanks to donors to SMU Athletics, the Mustangs charge into the elite conference poised to compete. The recently dedicated Garry Weber End Zone Complex, launched by the largest gift in the history of SMU Athletics, inspires greatness in our student-athletes and enhances an exciting new era of Mustang football. The First Week Society and many other donors to our ACC Competitiveness Campaign 鈥 plus the record number who have joined the Mustang Club 鈥 continue our momentum and make possible a successful introduction to the conference.
In this campaign update, you can also read about donors enhancing engineering research and advancement, enriching teaching in the arts, and empowering student success in undergraduate and graduate programs. We also feature stories of students who benefit from scholarships and fellowships who are blazing new paths and pursuing vital discoveries in health and engineering.
Our Q&A with Paula and Wally Rhines ’75 鈥 both alumni of other ACC schools 鈥 demonstrates the key role gifts play in driving research and technology breakthroughs.
Additionally, we welcome new leaders to the SMU Board of Trustees who are committed to advancing the mission of the University.
As you likely already know, I plan to transition to a new role at the end of the 2024鈥2025 academic year. The Board and I are grateful and proud of our shared success toward the SMU Ignited campaign and all we have accomplished together over the past 30 years.
We hope you will join with us in celebrating our entrance into the ACC at any of our upcoming events this season. Thank you to the many donors investing in SMU to create generations of world changers.
Pony Up!
R. Gerald Turner
SMU President